Pistol type flashlight with trigger actuated switch



R. J. AVERY Jan. 2, 1951 PISTOL TYPE FLASHLIGHT WITH TRIGGER ACTUATED SWITCH Filed Feb. 26, 1948 Inventor RQB RT J. ZVERY by A Atiuzrne Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED El -t? STATES PATENT OFFICE PISTOL TYPE FLASHLIGHT WITH TRIGGER ACTUATED SWITCH This invention relates to improvements in a flashlight and appertains particularly to one of interesting and novel design having a battery containing casing in the form of a pistol with the light bulb in the muzzle and the trigger serving as the circuit closing switch.

Among the principal objects of the invention are to provide a flashlight of attractive design appealing alike to young folks, hunters, campers and such; that is comfortable and convenient to hold having a natural pistol grip handle part that enjoys general popularity; and has a perfectly located switch, normally engaged by the users forefinger.

A further object is the provision of a flashlight of the nature and for the purpose described that is characterized by structural simplicity, compactness and efficiency and that is capable of manufacture at reasonable cost whereby the same is rendered commercially desirable.

To the accomplishment of these and related objects as shall become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

The invention will be best understood and can be more clearly described'when reference is had to the drawings forming a, part of this disclosure wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my novel flashlight;

Figure 2 is a plan thereof;

Figure 3 is an end elevation;

Figure 4 is a vertical, longitudinal section;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional detail of the trigger switch;

Figure 6 is a transverse section thereof as taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5, in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Figure '7 is a detail elevation of the contact plate seen also in side view in Figure 4.

The flashlight casing I of plastic, metal or other suitable material is substantially hollow and formed in the shape of a pistol. The instant design is made to carry three small dry cells 2a, 2b and these lie two-in-line (2a and 2b) longitudinally and coaxially aligned in the barrel 3 and the third one (20) is below the rear one (2b) of the tandem pair and behind the trigger 4. Access to the hollow interior of the casing I is by way of a removable rear panel 5 here shown as having an upturned tooth or lug 6 inwardly offset at the top for reception in a detent or cavity 1 in the casing at the rear of the barrel 3, and a locking finger 8 at the bottom, with a thumb-receiving cavity 9 in the adjoining top edge of the casing body I to facilitate releasing said finger and panel.

The front or muzzle end of the barrel 3 is exteriorly threaded as at III to receive a flanged securing ring II for a lens I2 that in turn holds the reflector I3 in' which the light bulb I4 is mounted.

A contact plate I5, with a pair of vertically spaced spring fingers I6 struck out therefrom, is disposed in the rear of the casing and compressed between the vertically disposed pair of batteries 2b and 2c and the removable panel 5 with the outstruck spring fingers I6 in electrical contact with said batteries and serving also, in the case of the upper one, to press the battery 2b into engagement with the foremost battery 2a and the latter into engagement with the centre spot contact with the light bulb l4.

The trigger switch 4 has a wide fiat tongue I1 extending longitudinally on its underside, for sliding engagement in a trough or groove I8 in the trigger guard part I9 of the casing frame I, that may be locked in retracted position by applying an excess of pressure on the lower part of the trigger so that the same tilts to drop said tongue into an inclined detent 20 in said groove. The trigger is released by rocking the upper part rearwardly, both locking and releasing of the trigger being of very natural manipulation of the pointer finger.

The circuit closer element of the trigger 4 is a spring metal strip 2|, its forward end engaging the light bulb-mounting reflector I3 and then running rearwardly beneath the battery 2a to a point behind the trigger 4 then passing downwards through an opening 22 in the casing I to lie between the forward end of the battery 20 and the rear of the trigger 4. This closer strip 2| has a rearwardly oifset section 23 level with the mid point of the battery 20 and therebelow rounds forwards and upwards as at 24 to seat and be secured in a stepped cavity 25 in the rear centre of the said trigger 4. This spring strip 2 I, it will be noted, besides closing the light circuit with the three batteries in series, when the trigger is squeezed pressing it into contact with the battery 20, serves also to spring the trigger forwards out of circuit closing position, while the tension on the bowed, upbent forward end portion in the trigger can be varied to cause the trigger to normally look when compressed or not, as desired.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will are E be manifest that a flashlight is provided that will fulfil all the necessary requirements of such a device, but as many changes could be made in the above description and many apparently widely different embodiments of the invention may be constructed within the scope of the appended claims, Without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all matters contained in the said accompanying specification and drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimitative or restrictive sense.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A flash light comprising a hollow casing simulating a pistol in general design, three dry cell batteries arranged in series therein, two being axially aligned in the barrel of the pistol and the third one below the rearmost of the aforesaid two, a removable panel in the back of said casing, a contact plate having a vertically spaced pair of spring fingers struck out therefrom compressed between said panel and the pair of vertically disposed batteries, a light bulb in the muzzle end of said pistol-like casing, a metal reflector in which said bulb is screw mounted, a slidable circuit closing trigger for said flash light and a spring metal contact strip extending from said light bulb reflector to said trigger and movable by the latter into engagement with the lowermost battery to complete the battery circuit through said light bulb.

2. The combination with the structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said metal strip at its rear end, where it engages said trigger, is bent with a tension normally pressing said trigger forwards into inoperative, circuit breaking position.

3. The combination with the structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said pistol-like casing has a trigger guard extending in front of and under said trigger and being grooved longitudinally on the top side of the guard portion underlying said trigger, said trigger having a wide flat tongue on its underside slidably seating in said groove.

4. The combination with the structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said pistol-like casing has a trigger guard extending in front of and under said trigger and being grooved longitudinally on the top side of the guard portion underlying said trigger, said trigger having a wide fiat tongue on its underside slidably seating in said groove, and an inclined detent in said grooved guard portion into which said trigger may drop in its retracted position for temporarily locking the same.

'5. The combination with the structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said pistol-like casing has a trigger guard extending in front of and under said trigger and being grooved longitudinally on the top side of the guard portion underlying said trigger, said trigger having a wide fiat tongue on its underside slidably seating in said groove, an inclined detent in said grooved guard portion into which said trigger may drop in its retracted position for temporarily locking the same and wherein said metal strip at its rear end is bent downwardly between said trigger and said lowermost battery and terminally bowed forwards and upwardly to seat in a stepped cavity in the rear of said trigger with a tension normally pressing forwards on said trigger and including in its intermediate vertical length a rearwardly oiTset portion engageable with said lowermost battery to complete the battery circuit through said light bulb when said trigger is operated.

ROBERT J. AVERY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent} UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 

